German-led EU Commission bites the German hand that feeds it

Nine months after her appointment, the EU Commission President goes to war with Germany

Last week, the German Constitutional Court, the Bundesverfassungsgericht, declared the actions of the ECB (European Central Bank) to be unlawful and also slammed the judgements of the CJEU (Court of Justice of the EU), saying they were not binding on Germany.

On Thursday last week, Brexit Facts4EU.Org published an important article about the verdict of Germany’s top court, which all readers can access here.

On Sunday evening, the EU Commission published a statement from its President about the decision of the German Court. The statement is decidedly curt in comparison with most EU Commission statements, and contains none of the usual niceties. We publish it in full below.

Extraordinary times in Brussels, as “EU Solidarity” is blown apart in opening skirmishes

The former German Defence Secretary, Ursula von der Leyen, was parachuted in as EU Commission President last year when none of the leaders of the EU countries could agree on any candidates put forward by the EU Parliament.

As ever, the EU Parliament made protests but then meekly went along with the EU Council’s eventual last-minute nomination of Frau von der Leyen.

Hers was not a popular appointment, though. She was the only candidate and was duly nodded through as usual, but only by eight votes out of 750.

Full statement by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 10 May 2020

“The recent ruling of the German Constitutional Court put under the spotlight two issues of the European Union: the Euro system and the European legal system.

“We take good note of the clear statement of the European Court of Justice of 8 May.

“In the same vein, the European Commission upholds three basic principles: that the Union's monetary policy is a matter of exclusive competence; that EU law has primacy over national law and that rulings of the European Court of Justice are binding on all national courts.

“The final word on EU law is always spoken in Luxembourg. Nowhere else.

“The European Commission's task is to safeguard the proper functioning of the Euro system and the Union's legal system.

“We are now analysing the ruling of the German Constitutional Court in detail. And we will look into possible next steps, which may include the option of infringement proceedings.

“The European Union is a community of values and of law, which must be upheld and defended at all times. This is what keeps us together. This is what we stand for.”

Observations

We would suggest that if readers review our article last Thursday and then read the EU Commission's reaction to the German court's verdict, this is extremely strong stuff.

Indeed, it seems that the EU Commission President von der Leyen was so angry that she forgot to call the EU's top court by its correct name. She refers to it as the “European Court of Justice” when in fact it changed its name some years ago to the “Court of Justice of the European Union”. (We think the Court realised that its original name was defamatory to the rest of European countries which are NOT part of the EU.)

EU to take infringement proceedings against Germany and its top court?

For Brexiteers it doesn’t get much better than this. The EU Commission – now led by the former German Defence Secretary – returning fire against the country she was recently responsible for defending?

Oh joy.

Or perhaps that should be “oh Ode to Joy”.

On that note, readers might like to remind themselves of the opening verse from Ludwig von Beethoven and his lyricist Friedrich Schiller. (Yes Remoaners, we know they weren't the Elton John and Bernie Taupin of their era and that the poem was written before the symphony. Please get a sense of humour.)

This is of course the EU’s national anthem which we would all have had to sing if we had followed the exhortations of the British Establishment to stay in the EU. Indeed it is the anthem which the Labour, LibDem, SNP and other parties would still prefer you to be singing.

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[ Sources: EU Commission | Bundesverfassungsgerichte (German Constitutional Court) | Court of Justice of the European Union ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

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Reader Comments 10

1. Jon, Wales , Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 07:30:

WOW! This article is like gold-dust for Brexiteers, and for eurosceptics across the continent of Europe.
(Note to Ursula von der Leyen - just a reminder the EU is NOT a country).
As we have all seen during this pandemic, EU member countries effectively kicked the federalist agenda into the bin and defended their own National identity.
The first duty of any government is to protect its own citizens, and that's exactly what they did, much to the annoyance of the Commission.
Now the world can witness the disharmony in the EU, and its chief officials with an overpaid ego larger than life itself.
The EU construct MUST come to an end, and only the peoples across the continent can force this to happen by a Brexit-styled referendum (but they must demand their voice is heard). They can then join the rest of the world?

2. Sydney Ashurst , Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 08:29:

German Green MEP Sven Giegold suggests it is an argument between German factions. He had asked EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen if the executive would initiate infringement proceedings against Germany
“If this conflict escalates, the euro is in danger. Because if the Bundesbank is really withdrawing from purchases of bonds it will be seen by financial markets as if the largest member state is not clearly anymore backing the euro,” he told Portuguese and Greek TV.
Giegold explained that the complainers are known adversaries of the euro and they have been going always against every step in monetary union made in the last 15 years.
“But now for the first time, the constitutional court was not only barking but biting. This is of course very political. They don’t like the euro and the German participation in the eurozone and now for the first time, the constitutional court moved one big step toward them,” he emphasised.

3. Andy , Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 08:34:

Of course if you take this judgement to its logical conculsion it would mean that the German Government and Parliament should not have signed and ratified either the Maastricht Treaty, which established the Euro, nor the Lisbon Treaty which enhanced the powers of the EU. We will see how this pans out but it could mean big trouble if the German Constitutional Court stands its ground.

4. Armond D V , Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 11:38:

Oh dear oh dear the one country that decided it was exempt from any rule it didn't like is finally being brought to heel

5. Victoria , Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 12:49:

Great article

6. Eleanor B , Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 13:11:

They'll destroy themselves from within! We don't need to do anything just sit back and watch!

7. Delighted , Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 13:39:

Champers is ready for the show. About time we saw the collapse of the EU utopian dream.

8. L Jones , Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 13:58:

It makes one wonder how many remoaners can quote this (or can even believe that this is the case):
''....that EU law has primacy over national law and that rulings of the European Court of Justice are binding on all national courts....''
Or could they define the word ''sovereignty'' - which they insist we had while under the heel of the EU?

9. One eyed king , Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 07:15:

The judgement is Germany clearing a path to deny EU rulings demands to bail out the south, which are clearly in the pipeline. If boris holds the line in negotiations and does not consign the conservative party to oblivion. Already circling the drain, this will be the end of the EU. The fifth column fully appreciate this, therefore justifying their msm coup against the government. Hold the line England

10. Derek Lund , Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 17:21:

My family love to tell me how useless I am at finding stuff. But honestly, folks, I've hunted high and low through the BBC's news output and couldn't find any mention of this topic. Surely the BBC wouldn't suppress such important news would they? It must be me being gormless again.